Upstairs there were still counters, but few people. Two assistants came forward to greet her. Tie Ci didn’t wait for them to speak, looked around to confirm no one else was there, then quickly rushed to a counter hung with all sorts of miscellaneous items, saying: “Give me several boxes of matches – do you have waterproof ones? I need at least three tents, a multi-purpose knife, a lightweight entrenching tool, two backpacks – the largest size, glass bottles too, as many plastic zip-lock bags as possible, two sleeping bags – we have sick people and pregnant women in the group, a coil of steel wire rope, a compass, a pack of compressed biscuits… Are these fireworks new products? I’ll take a few of those too.”

The assistants efficiently packed items, smiling: “You’re buying so much, we’ll throw in a fun toy for free. You might find it useful.”

Tie Ci nodded, then asked: “What about medicines?”

“You forgot – they’re in the freezer,” an assistant smiled and pointed.

“I need some anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medicines, drugs for treating external injuries. You decide on the specific types.” Tie Ci asked, “Do you have medicine that can treat Acacia Butterfly and Myriad Appearance Grass?”

“As you know,” the assistant smiled, “our medicines here are extremely effective, but can only target common illnesses. For detoxification, we’re limited to snake venoms. For strange and unusual poisons and diseases, we’re not capable yet.”

“Has anyone delivered herbs here?”

She had previously sent people to search the mountains for herbs to treat Acacia Butterfly. For convenience of contact, she had also mentioned that any herbs found could be delivered to Gui Qizhai. Master had opened many shops in Yannan, and she had given Tie Ci the list before coming to Yannan.

“No, none either.”

Tie Ci sighed.

She still had to handle it personally.

The assistants packed everything she needed, stuffing small items into the backpacks. The backpacks had countless pockets inside and out, and came with a long cylindrical water bladder. They also bundled the tents into a pile for her. Then they stood smiling before her.

Tie Ci bent down to pick up the tents and shouldered the backpack: “Thanks, please send my regards to the proprietor.”

The assistants maintained their eight-tooth smiles, nimbly shifting their feet to block her path again: “VIP customers get twenty percent off, thank you.”

Tie Ci sighed.

This must be a shop under Third Senior Sister’s management – every penny counted.

It wasn’t that she had no money, but these high-end goods in Master’s shops were so expensive that even she, the Crown Princess, felt the pinch.

“Can I sign for it?”

“Yes, not only can you sign for it, we can give you a deep discount.”

Someone behind her lovingly patted her head. Tie Ci quickly protected her head, or the white jade hairpin on her head might disappear in the next moment.

The old beggar shuffled out from behind her and plopped down in a black lacquered armchair: “Little Ci, if you have no money, putting it on account is fine. We’re family after all. How about this – you help out in the shop for a few days, work as a model or assistant or something, and we’ll waive the debt?”

“Then you could use me for advertising – something like ‘Crown Princess becomes obsessed with Gui Qizhai products, massive purchases leave her unable to pay, volunteers to work in shop to cover debt, attracts citywide crowds,’ and afterward you could sell everything I sat on, every outfit I wore, every floor tile I swept, all for money.”

“This is your value as Crown Princess. Master always said we businesspeople should take pride in completely extracting our employees’ personal value.”

“Right, 996 is a blessing.” Tie Ci adjusted the heavy backpack: “Money will come from someone. Just wait for it.”

She went downstairs carrying her loot, calling everyone to get in the carriages. She noticed with sharp eyes that A’li Teng wore a flower by her temple, her face flushed red as if drunk. Chi Xue whispered in her ear: “Young Master Chi wanted to buy jewelry for his wife. Dan Shuang wanted to secretly pay for it, but I stopped her. The assistant here was flexible, recommending this flower to Young Master Chi, saying the material was cheap if you considered it cheap, but absolutely precious if you considered it precious. For the sake of such a lovely couple, they only asked an extremely low price.”

Tie Ci glanced at the pink-purple flower. Its texture seemed jade but wasn’t jade, with brilliant luster and extremely exquisite craftsmanship. Such an item, if sold at the capital’s Gui Qizhai, wouldn’t go for less than a hundred taels of silver.

She knew the assistant wasn’t lying. Master had said this thing was made of plastic – it looked beautiful but wasn’t actually valuable. However, since plastic couldn’t yet be manufactured in the capital, calling it precious was also true.

Master always had some very peculiar and exquisite items that couldn’t be made with capital craftsmanship, but they were all unique pieces that couldn’t be replicated. She had asked Master why they couldn’t mass-produce them – wouldn’t that make a fortune? Master said something about these being rewards, not belonging here, that Great Qian’s current productive capacity and industrial level couldn’t yet possess these inventions… Master always had many secrets.

The group got into carriages. Passing a grain and oil shop, Tie Ci saw people giving out porridge at the entrance, with raggedly dressed people forming a long line. Chi Xue asked a few questions through the window, then returned saying a nearby village had suffered landslides from continuous rain, the entire village was devastated, and the villagers had come out as refugees. This grain and oil shop in Pingyun Prefecture was leading efforts to provide porridge for the displaced people.

Dan Shuang said: “It must be Master’s shop. Master makes money from all kinds of shops, but grain and oil shops never profit – every year the money goes to subsidize refugees and disaster victims everywhere.”

When in the capital, Dan Shuang had more opportunities to leave the palace than Tie Ci, so she knew these things.

Tie Ci glanced at Dan Shuang’s proud expression and smiled.

Only Master could do this – anyone else providing relief to refugees throughout the realm, wouldn’t they fear the ruler’s suspicion?

The carriages rumbled out of the city. By the time the Tan family members finally found out where Tie Ci and her group were staying and came panting to their door, Tie Ci had already led everyone into the mountains.

Not long after the carriages left, at Gui Qizhai outside the city gates, as evening approached and they were about to close up shop, several customers arrived.

The leader wore a demon mask haphazardly over his face, revealing half of a beautifully shaped jaw and exquisitely lined lips. Tall with long legs, as he walked in with the setting sun at his back, the bright and beautiful shop interior seemed to suddenly dim, as if all the flowing light and overflowing colors instantly flew to attach themselves to him.

But he immediately made everyone realize that some people could only be looked at for their faces – deep down, he simply wasn’t human.

He paid no attention to the assistants’ respectful greetings at the entrance, showed no interest in the distinctive bright counters, sneered at the assistants’ eager introductions of merchandise, and mocked loudly what others were buying.

“This telescope is no good. The telescopes from the West now see much farther and can extend and retract. This one is so outdated, yet you still want to buy it! If you have too much money, give it to the refugees outside.”

“This pearl flower is neither gold nor jade, yet dares to sell for more than gold and jade? What? Special material, unique in the world, one of a kind? Since there’s no second one, who knows what this thing is? Who can tell its value? I could mold a flower from cow dung and also call it unique, selling it to you for a hundred taels of silver – would you want it?”

“This Western red wine, sour on entry, and floral – the fragrance of flowers from brothels? Did it get heated during ocean transport due to poor storage? Or is it just not from any quality winery? Such wine wants to sell at the price of Eternal Fragrance wine – I could ferment some slop water and the resulting taste might be better than your wine.”

“Second floor items mistakenly brought to first floor? Second floor items not for sale? All foxes from the same mountain playing at purity? If you want to use playing hard to get to secretly promote expensive second-floor goods, just say so – though even if you did, I wouldn’t buy. Young sir, come back tomorrow and look – tomorrow they’ll definitely still be ‘mistakenly bringing second floor goods to the first floor, second floor items not for sale, don’t ask, if you really want to know, first buy a hundred taels of gold worth on the first floor.'”

…

One assistant couldn’t handle him, so a group came. The group couldn’t handle him either, so the manager came. The manager couldn’t handle him either.

He’d been in the door less than fifteen minutes, and more than half the customers in the shop had left. The remaining half were asking if he had his own shop, how he was so knowledgeable about the quality of various goods, and whether he’d give his name so they could patronize his place for comparison.

The manager broke out in sweat. Gui Qizhai was one of the proprietor’s high-end shops, subject to monthly national performance rankings. Regular customers were on a membership system, exclusively serving upper-class people from various regions. It was an important outpost for the Kaiyuan Trading Company to maintain relationships with officials and nobles. Losing high-end customers would cost more than just his monthly salary.

Recently, a large trading company had already entered Qianzhou and Yannan, competing with Kaiyuan Trading Company everywhere. Whatever Kaiyuan did, they did too, and sold cheaper than shops under Kaiyuan Trading Company. Gui Qizhai had already lost quite a few customers because of this. Reportedly this trading company had deep pockets and wasn’t just entering Qianzhou and Yannan, which was why the head manager was personally traveling around the country – he’d just recently arrived in Qianzhou.

The King of Verbal Combat leaned against the counter, coughed a few times, and said to a nearby woman: “Madam, when buying jewelry, you can’t look at it under their counter lights. Their lighting is strategically designed. You should take the item under natural light to look – it’ll definitely be like an ugly woman lifting her veil…”

Upstairs, the old beggar threw a book he hadn’t finished reading onto the table: “Please!”

A second-floor assistant quickly went downstairs, bowing to invite the customer up. The King of Verbal Combat glanced sideways at the manager: “Non-VIP customers can’t go upstairs.”

The manager maintained his composure, bowing: “Your superior insight and knowledge are sufficient proof that you’re an industry expert. Industry magnates automatically qualify for Gui Qizhai VIP customer status.”

The Verbal Combat King Murong Yi laughed heartily, swept his robes, and slowly went upstairs.

The old beggar stood waiting for him at the top of the stairs.

Murong Yi stopped at the stair landing, completely changing from his earlier verbal combat style. He stepped forward and bowed deeply to the ground.

The old beggar raised an eyebrow and smiled, about to ask why the initial arrogance followed by sudden respect, when the fellow straightened up and smiled: “Greetings, Senior Brother.”

Senior Brother was silent for a moment, then said: “Brother-in-law?”

Murong Yi answered quickly: “Yes!”

Senior Brother smiled: “Brother-in-law, your meeting gift to Senior Brother is truly sincere and generous.”

Murong Yi showed no change in expression: “Someone of Senior Brother’s caliber, who has seen all kinds of people – only something extraordinary could catch Senior Brother’s attention.”

“I thought brother-in-law came to settle accounts, considering junior sister just bought…” Senior Brother looked down and calculated on an abacus, then looked up at Murong Yi with a smile: “Thirteen thousand six hundred forty-two taels and five qian. Will you pay by bank note or gold?”

Murong Yi pulled over a stool and sat down: “Perhaps we could use a different payment method.”

Senior Brother waved his finger: “Though we’re family, we still need to talk business. No money, no deal.”

“There are many things in this world more important than money.” Murong Yi magically produced a small wine flask and two cups, pouring wine for Senior Brother: “After all, money is dead, but people are alive.”

“Are you implying I won’t live if I don’t listen to you?”

“How could that be?” Murong Yi smiled purely and harmlessly: “You’re my big brother-in-law after all.”

“The Wanqian Trading Company that’s been competing with us nationwide like mad dogs lately – that’s yours, isn’t it? I could tell from your speaking style just now.” Senior Brother accepted the wine Murong Yi offered, smelled it, shook his head, then pulled over a black ceramic bottle and poured the wine into it: “You’re really filial to your mother-in-law and big brother-in-law.”

Murong Yi smiled without speaking: “Family members talking like outsiders. After all, you wouldn’t give us Kaiyuan Trading Company when we marry.”

“Kaiyuan Trading Company will be an important pillar for the Crown Princess in court, and an assistant the Crown Princess must support to deal with various large and small financial groups under the Xiao clan. Central and Southwest China have Kaiyuan Trading Company, the North has the Tian clan’s trading company – this is the Crown Princess’s strategic layout. Yet you’re competing with Kaiyuan Trading Company for business. You’re undermining us like this – does the Crown Princess know?” Senior Brother raised his empty wine cup, indicating for Murong Yi to pour him another.

“That’s why I came.” Murong Yi didn’t pour wine, leaning back comfortably in his chair: “Want me to stop competing? Want Wanqian Trading Company to withdraw from malicious competition from now on?”

“Competing at any cost, pursuing and blocking, forcing us to take you seriously – isn’t this all for today’s negotiation?” Senior Brother took the wine flask himself, poured himself a cup, then repeated his trick, pouring it into the black ceramic bottle: “State your conditions.”

“What conditions could I have? I came to seek justice for my wife. I just want to ask – is my Crown Princess’s VIP card a black card?”

“…”

Senior Brother decided to ask Murong Yi for another cup of Eternal Fragrance wine as compensation for the damage to himself. It really was true that daughters favor outsiders – she wasn’t even married yet, but had already told the man everything, and this man was their competitor!

Murong Yi poured wine for him, ignoring his wine-transferring behavior, saying slowly: “Oral promises from Kaiyuan Trading Company to help the Crown Princess aren’t enough. Without even a black card, what kind of family member is that? I think she needs to know Kaiyuan Trading Company’s national shops, personnel composition, monthly profit ledgers, contact methods, plus receive twenty percent of annual profits, and the authority to have all national shops and properties open to the Crown Princess at any time, allowing her to deploy a certain amount of personnel and money under any circumstances…”

As if he couldn’t see Senior Brother’s increasingly dumbfounded expression, he finished speaking without changing expression, thought seriously for a moment, then said: “…That’s all for now.”

Without waiting for Senior Brother to speak, he smiled: “Don’t say we’re being greedy lions. Haven’t you used the Crown Princess’s name to do business all these years? This past year as the Crown Princess gradually gained power, haven’t the conveniences she provided you been few? You’ve accepted the Crown Princess’s goodwill and stated you’ll be her backing forever – shouldn’t you offer proof of loyalty? Ah Ci is kind-hearted and thin-skinned. She feels deeply indebted to her teacher and finds it hard to speak up, so I’m speaking for her.”

Senior Brother smiled: “What if Master doesn’t agree?”

“Then Wanqian Money House will let Kaiyuan Trading Company see exactly how much money Wanqian really has.” Murong Yi smiled slightly: “I’ll also make the Crown Princess understand that merchants value profit over sentiment and cannot be entrusted.”

Senior Brother held out his wine cup, saying sarcastically: “Threatening.”

Murong Yi said gently: “No, I haven’t started yet.”

Senior Brother fell silent. After a long while, he sighed: “Really not a good person, but also truly worthy of the Crown Princess. That girl has some fortune. But I have a question – since Wanqian Manor is so wealthy, why not come forward yourself instead of forcing Kaiyuan?”

Murong Yi smiled without answering.

After all, it was the Sun clan’s family property, too sensitive. Getting involved with Tie Ci would be disadvantageous to her. Wanqian’s main foundation and future development were still in Liaodong. Now it was just playing the role of a fierce tiger breaking into Great Qian to intimidate.

Senior Brother probably understood somewhat too and didn’t pursue the question, turning his wine cup with a smile.

Master had raised Little Ci from childhood with utmost care and effort. That Master’s commercial empire wasn’t fully open to Little Ci seemed normal to the senior brothers and sisters, given Little Ci’s special status – if trading companies were handed over, they could very well be swallowed by the imperial family at any time.

But now with Murong Yi being so aggressive, willing to mutually destroy rather than force Kaiyuan Trading Company to offer up resources, this wasn’t just about money. Shops spread throughout the nation meant the most informed intelligence, the most diverse secret industries, the smoothest information transmission, and the most convenient personnel deployment.

If the Crown Princess obtained these, whether dealing with enemies, monitoring officials, or implementing policies, everything would be much easier.

He smiled: “This matter is significant. Allow me to report to Master for decision.”

Murong Yi smiled and raised his cup.

“But you’re so fierce. Careful that Master gets angry and doesn’t acknowledge you as son-in-law.” Senior Brother winked at Murong Yi: “You know, in Little Ci’s heart, Master is more important than her birth mother.”

“As long as mother-in-law agrees to divide family property for her daughter, Wanqian Manor will offer sufficient betrothal gifts to please mother-in-law.”

Senior Brother laughed heartily, grabbing Murong Yi’s wine flask: “Refreshing! This calls for a big toast!”

Murong Yi lowered his head and coughed a few times, smiled and rose to take his leave. He didn’t try to retrieve the valuable wine flask and cups. Senior Brother leaned back on the couch, lazily waving his hand to see him off downstairs, then quickly scrambled up and poured the remaining wine from the flask into the black ceramic bottle. Coincidentally, it exactly filled one bottle. He handed this bottle to the manager: “Go seal this up and put an Eternal Fragrance wine label on it. Take it to the counter to sell – it can fetch thirty taels of silver!”

The manager, familiar with this head manager’s style, accepted it without surprise, smiling: “Came for one trip, said a few words, and gave us a bottle of wine – ultimately it’s just lip service.”

Senior Brother laughed heartily, but stopped abruptly mid-laugh, his face turning pale, eyes staring straight.

The manager was startled: “What’s wrong, Head Manager!”

Senior Brother slapped his thigh hard.

“Those thirteen thousand six hundred forty-two taels and five qian of silver – he still hasn’t paid!”