As she led Madam Duan to Lady Wang’s residence, Mudan took the opportunity to inquire about Jin Buyan. “Madam, you previously mentioned this guest was an old friend of yours. I unconsciously assumed he’d be around my father’s age, but he’s surprisingly young.”
Madam Duan laughed, “Though young, Jin Buyan has been roaming the jianghu since his teens. We’ve known each other for over twenty years. If that’s not an old friend, what is?”
Mudan smiled, “This Mr. Jin doesn’t have a trace of a southern man’s demeanor, and his Mandarin is quite good.”
Madam Duan agreed, “Indeed. When I first met him, I almost thought he was from the north. His mother, however, speaks pure Hangzhou dialect.” She paused, then looked at Mudan with a smile, “Lady He, rest assured, he’s a genuine person of good standing in Hangzhou. You can easily verify this. It’s his first time in the capital, and besides me and a few merchants he does business with, he doesn’t know anyone here. As for me, I’m simply here to visit my sister and nephew.”
Her implication was clear: they were here purely for business, with no other motives or connections to Prince Jing or Lady Qin. Mudan blushed, aware that Madam Duan had noticed her earlier eye contact with Jiang Changyang. She bowed to Madam Duan, saying, “To be honest, I’ve always hoped for everyone to appreciate Fangyuan’s flowers. However, given my current precarious position, I must proceed cautiously.”
Madam Duan chuckled, “Don’t worry. I’ve accompanied him to the Cao family garden and several other places these past few days. He’s never lingered anywhere as long or as reluctantly as he did here today.”
Mudan knew the deal would certainly be made, though its scale remained uncertain. She also hoped to introduce the Jade Waist Tower through an exchange.
Upon meeting Madam Duan, Lady Wang showed no particular caution, warmly inviting her to stay for lunch. They chatted about Yangzhou’s customs, with Lady Wang sighing wistfully, “Yangzhou is a wonderful place. Though lacking grandeur, it’s no less prosperous than the capital. If not for my son, I’d have been content to stay there.”
Madam Duan could barely contain her laughter, “You could always retire there in the future.”
Seeing their cheerful conversation, Mudan excused herself to continue overseeing household matters and meal preparations.
After lunch, Jin Buyan resumed his meticulous tour. As they approached the seedling garden’s entrance, he was about to step inside when Mudan subtly blocked his way, smiling, “My apologies, an elderly person resides here who dislikes disturbances. Please, this way.”
Jin Buyan stopped, smiling, “I heard you have a seedling garden, Madam?”
Mudan paused briefly, then replied, “Yes, this is it.” There was no point in concealing it, but that didn’t mean it was open for viewing.
Jin Buyan stared at the tightly closed gate, speaking softly, “What if I were to propose a substantial business deal? Say, instead of just cuttings, I want successfully grafted flowers. Without seeing the seedling garden, how can I be sure of your capabilities?”
Mudan turned to look at him, “That depends on the scale of your business. If it exceeds my capacity, I won’t accept it.” The long-term business relied on reputation above all else.
Jin Buyan chuckled, “We can negotiate. As of now, I’m considering purchasing several plants in the capital.”
“One moment, please.” Mudan took a deep breath, signaling Yuhe to go inside and secure Da Hei. Several plants, not just cuttings but successfully grafted flowers—how much would that cost? What a grand gesture! No wonder people spoke of the South’s wealth; first Madam Duan, the female shipping magnate, and now Jin Buyan, another person of immense wealth.
Inside the seedling garden, Jin Buyan looked around curiously, inquiring about various plants. He spent a long time in front of the “What Kind of Brocade,” and then enthusiastically examined Mudan’s seedling propagation area. “If this method were used for cultivating tree peonies, it would save considerable effort and cost. Would you be interested, Lady He? If so, I have an herbal business we could collaborate on.”
Growing tree peonies wasn’t particularly challenging. As Mudan was about to respond, Jiang Changyang suddenly interjected, “This garden alone has already consumed all of my wife’s energy. If she were to grow tree peonies as well, I fear she’d have no time even to eat.” His implication was clear: he disapproved of Mudan taking on any additional projects.
Surprised by his unexpected intervention on her behalf, Mudan didn’t comment but agreed, “That’s right. I’m already satisfied with cultivating flowers well. If I could develop a few new varieties, it would fulfill my life’s ambition.”
Jin Buyan smiled and changed the subject, “I’ve heard your household has a plaque with the imperial inscription ‘National Beauty, Heavenly Fragrance.’ Might I have the honor of admiring it?”
Viewing the plaque wasn’t an unreasonable request, so Mudan had no objection. However, when Jin Buyan stood motionless, staring at the plaque for half an hour, she grew uncomfortable. Was he so entranced that he wanted to take it home?
“Look, it’s getting dark. Why not stay for dinner?” Mudan smiled awkwardly at Lu Wulang, who understood and hurried to tug at Jin Buyan’s sleeve, whispering something. Jin Buyan suddenly seemed to awaken, turning to bow to Jiang Changyang and Mudan with a sheepish smile, “I apologize for my rudeness. As a country bumpkin, I’ve never seen imperial calligraphy before and got completely lost in it…”
Though finding it odd, Jiang Changyang and Mudan smiled understandingly, changing the subject and again offering dinner. Jin Buyan replied, “It’s late, so I’ll decline dinner. I’ve seen enough flowers for today. Lady He, let’s get down to business. How many flowers can you sell me? We can negotiate the price.”
Mudan smiled coyly, “Are you saying you’ll take as many as I have?”
Jin Buyan gazed at her intently, “Not just any flowers. I want the best.”
Mudan signaled Yuhe to prepare, “I’ll have the manager write up a list of available varieties from Fangyuan. You can review it and decide, then we’ll discuss the price.”
Yuhe quickly returned with the list. Jin Buyan took a brush and began writing as he reviewed it. Towards the end, he paused and asked Mudan, “Why isn’t the Golden Waist Tower listed?”
Mudan smiled slightly, “For the Golden Waist Tower, you’d need to exchange it with the Jade Waist Tower. It’s not for sale.”
Jin Buyan sighed softly and continued writing. Finally, he handed a list to Mudan: “I want six plants of each variety listed here, with at least six successful grafts per plant. The minimum height should be two feet, and next spring, at least two-thirds of the grafts should bloom. I’ll pay the market price without haggling—a higher price is fine, but the quality must be excellent.”
Mudan made a quick calculation. He wanted fifteen varieties, all renowned, six plants each, totaling 90 plants. Given his strict requirements, even the least expensive would cost no less than 100,000 cash. Her initial estimate put the deal at nearly 4 million cash. However, such deals often came with stringent conditions. She probed, “What about transportation costs and potential losses during transit?”
Jin Buyan waved dismissively, “I’ll cover those. I’ll send people specifically to collect them. However…” He looked at Mudan deliberately, “I’ll pay one-third as a deposit, another third upon receiving the flowers, and the final third next spring after they bloom. If less than two-thirds of the grafts bloom, you’ll forfeit the final payment. If even fewer bloom, you’ll have to compensate me.”
She wasn’t a miracle worker. She could guarantee using the best cuttings and rootstocks but couldn’t ensure perfect management of the peonies afterward. While this condition aimed to prevent her from cutting corners, it was indeed harsh. Mudan frowned, “What if mismanagement on your end is to blame?”
Jin Buyan smiled confidently, “I have that much faith in myself. You may have heard I’m seeking skilled gardeners, but I’m not looking for those who make basic errors in plant care. I’m searching for someone like you, who can graft ‘What Kind of Brocade’ and cultivate new peony varieties. If you’re concerned, you can send a trusted gardener along—I’ll cover their food and lodging. Of course, natural disasters and unforeseen circumstances won’t be held against you.”
Mudan asked cautiously, “May I inquire about the purpose of buying these peonies?”
Jin Buyan replied proudly, “Rest assured, though I’m a businessman, I’m not in the peony trade. This is purely a personal interest. Next year, on April 8th, it’s my mother’s 60th birthday. I plan to build the finest garden in Hangzhou, filled with blooming peonies, as a gift to her. That’s why I’m not concerned about the cost, only the quality.”
Understanding his desire to create a unique birthday celebration for his mother now that he had the means, Mudan nodded sympathetically, “If you’ve had this plan for a while, why wait until this year to buy the flowers? Most grafted varieties won’t bloom abundantly in their first year.”
Jin Buyan laughed heartily, “What makes you think I only started preparing this year? Your Fangyuan wasn’t even open last year. I’ve already purchased quite a few from the Lu family in Luoyang, and I’ve ordered some from Cao Wanrong as well. Are you hesitant to do business with me?”
Mudan smiled, “It’s not hesitation, just caution—for both our sakes. How about this: I’ll calculate the prices and discuss them with you further.”
Jin Buyan agreed readily, “Certainly. I’ll visit again in a couple of days, giving you time to work out the details.” This would also allow her to verify his credentials—a multi-million cash deal wasn’t to be taken lightly.
As Jiang Changyang and Mudan saw Jin Buyan and his party out, they noticed several horsemen approaching in the fading sunlight, led by Fang Bohui. Jin Buyan stood before the horses and asked, “Might you be Fang Bohui, the Jiedushi of Anxi?”