Ji Yun smiled and stepped aside to avoid his bow, quickly returning the courtesy respectfully, “This servant didn’t explain clearly. That lady is this servant’s mistress.”
“Oh?”
Ji Yun turned and helped Qin Yining walk to the side entrance.
The head manager also got a clear look at Qin Yining’s appearance. Recalling the description from a recent letter from the master—”a young woman beautiful as a celestial fairy”—he suddenly understood and respectfully bowed, then lowered his voice, “Might you be Princess Consort Zhongshun?”
Qin Yining raised an eyebrow, “You recognize me?”
“No, no, no. This humble one has never met you before. It’s just that in a recent letter from the master, mention was made that Princess Consort Zhongshun would arrive soon. The master also instructed this humble one to follow all your orders. This humble one’s surname is Yin, given name Wuzhi. In the future, please feel free to give any instructions, Princess Consort. This humble one will certainly serve with all his heart.”
“Manager Yin is too polite.” Qin Yining couldn’t help but admire Qiu Feishan’s wisdom and arrangements.
It seemed she was now quite attentive to Pang Xiao’s affairs. Presumably, since Mu Jinghu was now advancing and retreating together with Pang Xiao, for Mu Jinghu’s sake, Qiu Feishan wouldn’t stand by and watch Pang Xiao’s troubles without acting.
However, Qiu Feishan’s thorough arrangements certainly saved her considerable explanations.
Manager Yin respectfully invited Qin Yining through the door, and the group walked along the covered corridor directly to the main hall of the rear residence.
“Please take the seat of honor.”
“You please sit as well.”
Both sides courteously took seats according to their status. Qin Yining smiled, “Have things been going smoothly lately?”
Without Qiu Feishan’s instructions, Manager Yin would only think Qin Yining, an outsider, was meddling too much.
But considering Qin Yining’s identity and Qiu Feishan’s attitude, Manager Yin had already determined that Qiu Feishan must have aligned herself with the prince. With Prince Zhongshun as a powerful backer in the future, Sitong Trading Company’s affairs would go more smoothly.
People like them—ordinary common folk—where would they have opportunities to interact with high-ranking officials and nobles? Now that they had established this connection, it would only bring benefits, no harm.
So this opportunity to speak with Qin Yining was extremely precious to him.
“In response to the Princess Consort,” Manager Yin said respectfully, “thanks to your and the prince’s blessings, Sitong Trading Company has been doing fairly well lately. The local branch has been developing smoothly, and though business can’t compare to larger towns, it’s still quite good.”
“That’s good.” Qin Yining smiled, “The prince will come here to take up his post soon. Our family will probably be settling in Huichuan County for quite a long time, so we may need to trouble Manager Yin for much care.”
“Not at all. You just need to give orders. Such politeness truly overwhelms this humble one.”
Seeing Qin Yining’s refined manners without any arrogance of those in high positions, Manager Yin felt comfortable. But since the princess consort observed proper etiquette, he wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to think he could take such polite words at face value.
Manager Yin stood up, bowed anxiously, “Whatever matters the Princess Consort and the prince have in the future, just give orders freely. This humble one will certainly do his utmost, going through fire and water without hesitation.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded.
At this moment, Manager Yin had a flash of inspiration and suddenly said, “Princess Consort, actually there has been one difficult matter these days.”
Qin Yining raised an eyebrow, “What?”
Manager Yin pondered briefly, then said, “It’s like this—recently Huichuan County hasn’t been peaceful. Some group of martial world… heroes from who knows where have appeared. Recently they’ve been visiting the wealthy households in Huichuan County and surrounding areas one by one. After arriving, they borrow money from the wealthy families on the pretext of lacking capital for business. You know, this is clearly demanding money. There’s no date for repayment.”
Qin Yining’s heart jumped, immediately thinking of Manager Hu’s group.
“What do these people look like? How many are there? How do they operate?”
Seeing Qin Yining asking in detail without any intention to brush him off, Manager Yin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, “That group has about five or six people. They haven’t come to our place yet, and the number varies each time, but roughly like that. It’s just that these heroes all possess martial skills. When they arrive at wealthy households, they also practice ‘courtesy before force,’ explaining they need silver for business, then demonstrating their hard skills on the spot. Then they pester relentlessly for money.
“Generally, wealthy families don’t want to provoke such troublesome characters. They all think it’s better to avoid trouble, so most give silver—rewarding them with ten taels, several dozen taels, various amounts. But this group seems unsatisfied. When some rewards don’t meet their expectations, they keep returning to those homes.”
Qin Yining nodded, “So you’re somewhat worried they’ll come to Sitong Trading Company demanding silver?”
Manager Yin nodded and sighed, “Exactly. You know, our Sitong Trading Company stands out conspicuously. I fear that when the time comes, even several dozen taels of silver won’t send these people away. I’m afraid it will invite trouble.”
At this point, Manager Yin smiled somewhat sheepishly, “The prince surely has many personal guards. If something really happens, please ask the Princess Consort to look after us.”
Qin Yining smiled and nodded, “Naturally. Given my relationship with Boss Qiu, since she’s not here, I naturally must take care of Sitong Trading Company.”
Manager Yin suddenly felt the superiority of having a big tree to lean against, smiling broadly, “Thank you, Princess Consort.”
The two chatted pleasantly for a while when suddenly a shop assistant came from the front to report, speaking as rapidly as spilling beans.
“Manager, several people have come to the front. They don’t say what business they’re in, and they’re not here to buy anything, but they want to see you. Looking at them, they seem just like that famous group of ‘heroes’ that’s appeared in Huichuan County recently.”
The shop assistant looked somewhat panicked. After all, they were just ordinary merchants who only wanted to earn a peaceful living and really didn’t want to invite trouble.
Manager Yin looked toward Qin Yining, “Princess Consort, what do you think…”
Qin Yining thought for a moment, “Go meet with them and see what they really want. You should also learn from other local wealthy families—first give them ten taels. If that can get rid of them, fine. If they don’t agree, come ask me again.”
“Yes!” Manager Yin quickly agreed. With Qin Yining’s instructions, he had a backbone, and he quickened his pace to the front.
Qin Yining remained in the rear residence’s main hall with Bingtang and Ji Yun, drinking tea and waiting for news from the front.
After about the time of two incense sticks, Manager Yin returned, wiping sweat.
“Princess Consort, this humble one gave them fifty taels, but they still felt unsatisfied. They said they wanted to do a big business, and if they could get investment, they could offer partnership shares. This humble one claimed to be just a small manager who couldn’t make decisions, so they began making unreasonable demands, insisting on meeting Sitong Trading Company’s master. They also said Sitong Trading Company has great wealth and wouldn’t want their business smashed.”
More sweat slid down his forehead, and Manager Yin quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand, “Princess Consort, what should we do about this situation?”
Qin Yining propped her chin thoughtfully and asked, “What did those men look like? The leader—does he speak with a very hoarse voice?”
“Yes, does the Princess Consort know him?” Manager Yin was somewhat surprised and couldn’t help asking, then immediately regretted his quick tongue and tried to remedy it, “This humble one means nothing by it, just surprised.”
“I understand.” Qin Yining smiled.
Manager Yin continued, “Five people came, all built like oxen and horses. The leader dressed like a scholar, spoke with a very hoarse voice, and had sharp eyes that made people uncomfortable to look at.”
Qin Yining couldn’t help but stand up and pace thoughtfully.
It seemed Manager Hu’s group was urgently raising silver.
They were urgently seeking silver—for what?
The silver they’d used to buy office from the Lu family had essentially gone down the drain. Who knew when Lu Zheng would refund it? Their urgent need for silver now must also be related to the treasure matter.
Thinking it over, Qin Yining could only conclude that Manager Hu wanted to raise silver to hire people to rob those stones.
If that was the purpose, they would need a lot of silver.
After all, even though they were just stones for building the imperial mausoleum, anyone daring to covet them would face execution if caught by the court. To hire people for such dangerous work, they naturally needed to invest heavily—otherwise, who would risk their lives with them?
Having figured out this key point, a plan gradually took shape in Qin Yining’s mind.
Seeing Qin Yining silent, Manager Yin asked hesitantly, “Princess Consort, about this matter…”
Qin Yining thought for a moment, “I have a solution for this matter. Go tell them that tomorrow at this same time, they should come here. Say that Boss Qiu of Sitong Trading Company wants to meet them personally.”
“Princess Consort? Boss Qiu, she…”
Qin Yining smiled, “Just say this. I have my own plans. If they still won’t leave, tell them that Sitong Trading Company has established businesses everywhere, with our shops in various places. The shops won’t grow legs and run away. If they want investment for business, they naturally need large amounts of silver. Only by talking with the master can they achieve results. You’re just a manager with limited authority over amounts.”
Manager Yin listened in amazement, never expecting the Princess Consort to be someone who could lie so seamlessly.
However, since the master had said in the letter to follow all the Princess Consort’s orders, Manager Yin was naturally happy not to have to handle this himself. He immediately nodded and went out to deal with them.
Soon, Manager Yin returned in good spirits, “Princess Consort, they’ve left, saying they’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Mm.” Qin Yining turned to instruct Ji Yun, “Quietly go out and have Tang Xiu carefully observe whether there are any eyes watching around. We’ll return only after all the eyes have left.”
“Yes.” Ji Yun nodded, picked up the oil-paper umbrella standing against the wall, put on wooden clogs under the corridor, and quickly went out with clicking steps.
Manager Yin was stunned, “Princess Consort, are you worried that group of heroes didn’t leave?”
Qin Yining nodded, “Being cautious is never wrong.”
Manager Yin suddenly felt cold sweat on his forehead.
Being watched wasn’t a pleasant experience. If one didn’t know, it would be fine, but now having suspicions, his heart was truly on edge.